Paquin 'auditioned five times for Blood'

Anna Paquin has revealed that she auditioned five times for her role in True Blood.

Speaking at this year's PaleyFest, the actress - Sookie Stackhouse in the vampire drama - joked that the process was "acting abuse".

"It wasn't so much auditioning as it was stalking," Paquin said of her reading to creator Alan Ball. "I thought it was acting abuse.

"It's really fun being the only pasty brunette vampire-looking person in the room that's filled with people auditioning for a busty tan blonde person," she added. "I'm grateful that Alan and HBO were able to see beyond the aesthetic."

Last month, it was announced that Valerie Cruz is to star on the show.